Isaiah 61:3

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 61:1-3

He that is the best expositor of scripture has no doubt given us the best exposition of these verses, even our Lord Jesus himself, who read this in the synagogue at Nazareth (perhaps it was the lesson for the day) and applied it entirely to himself, saying, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears (Luke 4:17, 18, 21); and the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth, in the opening of this text, were admired by all that heard them. As Isaiah was authorized and directed to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 61:3

To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion ,.... Or, "to the mourners of Zion" F21 לאבלי ציון "lugentibus Sionis", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator Vitrtnga. So Syr. ; such who are of Zion, belong to the church of God, and mourn for the corruptions in Zion's doctrines; for the perversion, abuse, and neglect of Zion's ordinances; for the disorders and divisions in Zion; for the declensions there, as to the exercise of grace, and the power of godliness; for the few instances of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 61:3

To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion "To impart gladness to the mourners of Zion" - A word necessary to the sense is certainly lost in this place, of which the ancient Versions have preserved no traces. Houbigant, by conjecture, inserts the word ששון sason , gladness, taken from the line next but one below, where it stands opposed to אבל ebel , sorrow or mourning, as the word lost here was to אבלי abeley , mourners: I follow him. - L. Beauty for ashes "A beautiful crown... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 61:1-3

THE MISSION OF THE SERVANT OF THE LORD . The words of our Lord in Luke 4:21 , "This day is this Scripture fulfilled in your ears," preclude the application of this passage to any other than the Lord himself. It is simply astonishing that some Christian commentators (Ewald, Hitzig, Knobel) have not seen the force of this argument, but, with the Jews, imagine the prophet to be speaking of his own ministry. It is contrary to the entire spirit of Isaiah's writings so to glorify... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 61:1-3

The purposes of Messiah's mission. We are not to suppose that the prophet unfolds to us in the present passage the whole purpose of God in sending his Son into the world. Such logical exactness is alien to the spirit of prophecy, and especially unsuited to the rhetorical tone which everywhere characterizes Isaiah. Still, as the subject is one of transcendent interest, and as our Lord himself cites the passage as descriptive of his mission, it may be useful to note how many, and what... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 61:1-9

Message of grace to Zion. I. THE ANOINTING OF THE MESSENGER . Under the Law, the priests were anointed ( Exodus 29:7 ; Le 7:36), and also the kings ( 1 Samuel 9:16 ; 1 Samuel 10:1 ; 1 Samuel 16:13 ). It was the sign of appointment to a high office or commission from God. Hence, by a figure, it is applied to the appointment of Elisha to the prophetic office ( 1 Kings 19:16 ), and to the designation of Cyrus as the instrument of the purpose of Jehovah. Similarly, in 1 John... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 61:1-12

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 61:3

To appoint … to give . The latter expression is a correction of the former, which was not wide enough. Messiah is sent to give to the godly mourners read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 61:3

Comfort and cheer. "To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion," etc. There is a triple exchange spoken of in these words, which ought to quicken thought. I. CHARACTER . "Beauty for ashes." The penitent is uplifted from the dust. Instead of standing before God in sad confession, with all the stains of sin upon his heart and the liturgy of woe upon his lips, he has new life. The beauty of the Lord is given to him—there is transformation. II. EMOTION . "The oil of joy for mourning."... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 61:3

Christ our Comforter. We think of our Lord as of our Divine Friend; and there is no way in which any one can show himself so true a friend as in the time of trouble. Well says the old adage, "A friend in need is a friend indeed." I. OUR URGENT NEED OF HIS DIVINE SUCCOUR . "Them that mourn in Zion." In virtue of his relation to us as our Saviour, Jesus Christ delivers ,s from the power and bondage of sin, and so from the remorse which attends its presence and constitutes a... read more

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